Testis Tumor Markers: How Accurate are They?

Abstract
Initial reports on the usefulness of radioimmunoassays for the .beta. chain of human chorionic gonadotropin and for .alpha.-fetoprotein suggested that these 2 tests would detect metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer in 93% of the cases. In a review of 30 patients with stages 2 and 3 nonseminomatous testicular cancer, a 20% falsely negative rate was found for these serum assays. In all of these cases the .beta.-human chorionic gonadotropin and .alpha.-fetoprotein levels were simultaneously negative despite proved existence of metastatic disease.